Page 13

Mezerath

He’d never in his life had trouble picking an outfit before.

True, his courtly blue and gold regalia made an impression, but his usual fare of linen pants and a black tunic worn ragged from years of wear was too…

unworthy, for lack of a better word. Asha deserved better.

Rath so dearly loved his tunics, the delicate silver and gold embroidery on them, a comfort only his mother could bring at a time like this.

Perhaps if his parents woke in the spring for the solstice, as some sleepers did, they could meet Asha.

“Your Majesty. Dinner will be served soon.” His chambermaid swept through the guest bedroom, tsking at the clothes laying about, what he’d pilfered from his quarters before Jeron ran him off.

Traitor. Rath knew where the boy’s loyalties lie.

Right where they should be. Hopefully, he and Asha would get along.

She bustled by and rifled through his clothes before pulling out a tunic he’d overlooked.

She brushed dust off of the dark-gray surface and held it up.

It lacked the pretty embroidery on the sleeves and neckline that Rath so enjoyed, but it had a crest at the chest of it, a mixture of applique and embroidery that he’d not worn in some time, the crest of their nation.

He tossed his clothes to the bed and Nina, his chambermaid, bustled around him with a twisted frown.

“You’re as messy as your father, really. ”

“I apologize dearly, miss.” Rath offered her his best smile, and she beamed.

“I’ve not seen you so lost since your parents went to sleep.

” She gave him a one-armed hug as he shrugged into the new shirt and plucked the threads of it into place, relishing how it complemented his broad chest. It would give his mate something to look at, to tempt and lure him in.

He strode to a mirror and turned this way and that to look at himself before Nina came after him with a comb like he was a child again.

He fought her minimally and succumbed to her ministrations.

“I don’t know what to do to impress my mate. He has been poisoned against what he is.”

Nina pinched his chin and grinned, tucking his stray hairs around his horns.

“Be yourself. And remember, he’s not a bedservant.

If it didn’t keep your beast at bay, I’d have never wanted you to have one.

He’s your friend first, remember that.” She patted his cheek and swatted his rear with a shirt as she slipped by.

“Now, shape up and go spend time with your brothers in the dining hall. Envi is driving everyone nuts trying to get more details on your boy.”

“Draenvir can keep wondering and meet him at dinner like the rest of them.”

“You say that, but Envi’s the best of all of you at magic and if the boy’s been sheltered, he’ll want all the help he can get.

Can you imagine that power he has to be holding for you?

” Nina hung a few items of clothing up before circling Rath and straightening his chain and clothes before handing him a pair of comfortable leather shoes, something a scant more sturdy and warm than a slipper.

He tucked them on and gave her a one-armed hug.

“I agree. It frustrates me that he’ll have more time with my mate than I.”

“Ahh, so you’re going to exercise a little patience, then?” Nina chuckled. “Never was your strong suit.”

Rath grumbled and slipped free of the guest bedroom. He had to keep telling himself that time would come, that Asha would come to him.

Rath strode into the banquet hall and spied his brothers milling around. Envi had his face shoved into a book as per usual, and Ghreid, his youngest brother, sat tallying through some trade ministry documents, brow furrowed. Those creases would become permanent if he didn’t ease up soon.

“Anyone seen Slathar about?” Rath and he had been born from the same clutch, and though they were as near to twins as a dragon could get, he didn’t have the same drive as Rath did, preferring to create.

“Probably in his studio, again? He was wondering around covered in paint this morning.” Ghreid waved his dip pen about before seeing to some figures or another. “Speaking of missing brothers. Where’ve you been?”

“He found his mate and went to go fetch him, which is why I bothered to be here at all,” Envi said, rolling his eyes.

Ghreid sat bolt upright, fumbling his pen. Rath darted forward to catch it, spilling ink over his hand and pants in the process, saving his figures. He swore and sighed heavily. “You found him? What’s he like? Dragon or Ashen? Don’t tell me. He’s Ashen, right?”

Rath shuffled anxiously and twisted, uncertain of what to do with the splatters of ink and the dark spill over his hand. “Damn it all to the pits! I was trying to look presentable!”

“That’s a first. You and Slath both have a penchant for mucking about in ratty attire. Lapryda would be dying if he were here.” Envi stood and passed Rath a damp rag.

“What about me?” Slath entered the room, his eyes every bit as blue and dark as Rath’s, but his scales had a tint of green to them, a dragon of earth, belied by his vertical tine-like horns. Unlike Rath’s gently curving specimens, Slath’s were unimpressive.

“Speaking of underdressed and slovenly!” Ghreid sighed heavily. “Go get some decent clothes on. You’re going to meet Rath’s mate tonight.”

Slath blinked up innocently and shrugged as his large sketchbook settled on his hip. “Already met him, sort of.” His fingertips bore the telltale black of charcoal, and he thrust his sketchbook into Rath’s hands, and he blanched, avoiding Slath’s stained hands.

“Careful! And what do you mean you met him already?” Rath puffed up anxiously and Slath rolled his eyes, fidgeting with the book to open it to the latest page, the rippled paper adorned with an image that stole Rath’s breath away.

Gentle curls of Asha’s soft waves spilled over his head, his nearly bare body stretched out amid the plentiful cushions and pillows, the only thing covering his skin, a sliver of quilt over one leg and a crisp pair of fitted braies, short and comely.

Were Rath alone, he’d be having a private moment with the sketch.

“You’ve outdone yourself.” Rath breathed as his fingers brushed the page’s edge, drawing a curious Ghreid and Envi to peer.

“Egads, Brother. Your dragon is pacing in your eyes. He is a beautiful specimen.” Envi hummed with appreciation and paused, brow furrowed as he asked Slath the question Rath should have been. “What were you doing loitering about while he slept?”

“Well… At first, I thought I would see about painting that mural in your hall I’ve been threatening to do for gods know how long, and then I caught the scent of your bedservant’s bath oils and thought I might borrow some to cut my pigments, but he chased me off and I saw your Ashen one, and Jeron agreed to let me sketch if I wouldn’t wake him.

” Slath shrugged haplessly and grinned at his word. “He’s gorgeous.”

“I know that! Stay away from my nest, please. I’m not going to rush things like Father and end up making him fragile, if his banty cockerel of a master hasn’t made him so already.

” Rath went back to daubing the ink from his hands and tried with his pants, but it was of no use.

If he left to go change again, he might miss Asha returning.

“Sleeps awful sound for someone that could be fragile. But hey, we match!” Slath beamed and snatched his sketchbook, holding it out of Rath’s grasp to keep him from going after the sketch.

“Hey! It’s not done. Also, I don’t want you doing anything weird with it.

I can scent your dragon’s frustrations, you know. ”

Rath sighed raggedly and slumped into his chair. “I’m a nervous wreck!” Rath took a lingering glance at the book Envi had open before him. Agriculture. Nothing interesting.

“So, what’s this Ashen one of yours like, Rath?” Envi closed his tome and settled himself. Getting him out of a book sometimes was an act of parliament.

“His mark is his wings, and he’s a kind soul, and clever. His heart is boundless, and he cares so very much. His empathy and care for others makes me confident he will be a proper complement to me. I wish to see how he flourishes with a little kindness.”

“Hmm. I wonder if he enjoys reading.” Envi’s eyes slowly migrated back toward his tome, but he held back, a sign of his restraint and interest.

“I do, very much,” Asha said from the doorway, his voice quiet and uncertain. “The estate’s tutor taught me to read and my figures of an evening when he was done with the earl’s sons.”

“Lovely!” Envi beamed as he stood, taken aback when Asha bowed politely to them. Jeron, at his side, patted him and tugged him to stand with an encouraging whisper.

“Sorry. I am not accustomed to having station.” Asha forced a soft smile.

“Excellent! He’s not been taught proper disrespect yet!” Ghreid stood and stretched, narrowing his eyes at Asha.

“I’ve been told I’m a quick learner.” Asha’s soft smile tugged upward at the corner of his mouth.

Cheeky…

“Oh, I will like you.” Ghreid swept in, ever the striking image of their father, all dark scales at his temples and an unfortunately dour expression permanently affixed to his face since birth.

He hugged Asha swiftly and patted his back, and Rath winced on his behalf but sighed when Asha didn’t so much as flinch. Jeron had seen to him well.

“See, every bit as pretty as I drew him.” Slath grinned, his sharp teeth a mirror of Rath’s.

Asha blushed. “Thank you. And I’ll be sure to come by your studio when I’m more settled in. I’m not certain about sitting for you, but I appreciate the offer.”

“It is up to you and Rath if you choose to do so. Well, up to you. Rath can’t stop you from doing anything, Asha. Tell us if he gets too bossy.” Slath winked.

Jeron gestured Asha to take a seat beside Rath, stumbling past Envi, who gave him a welcoming pat to his arm. “You’ll meet the rest of us brothers over time.”